Compared with our lowly 350 olfactory receptors in humans, rats and mice have over 1200, essential in their mostly scent-guided world. As such, the social behaviour of rats and mice is influenced by pheromones - chemical factors that elicit a response in the same species. Less well studied are the effects of kairomones, chemical factors that elicit behavioural response across different species. An example of this complex interspecific communication has recently been discovered between rats and mice and their predators: a compound found in high concentrations in the urine of carnivorous mammals produces an instinctive avoidance response in rats and mice.The kairomone 2-phenylethylamine, a product of protein metabolism, is found at a concentration over 3000 times greater in carnivorous mammals than in herbivorous mammals. Due to its volatility (particles are easily suspended in the air), these high levels of 2-phenylethylamine can de detected from great distances. When it reaches the nose of a rat or mouse, the kairomone activates trace amine-associated olfactory receptor TAAR4, causing an innate avoidance response. While this is a key aid in survival for rats and mice, meanwhile, we would walk on by oblivious, as we completely lack the gene for TAAR4. The mechanism by which chemical receptors are translated via neural circuits to behaviours is a fascinating subject, as yet unresolved.Ref: D. M. Ferrero et al. (2011) Detection and avoidance of a carnivore odor by prey. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 108(27) 11235-11240 [link]

Compared with our lowly 350 olfactory receptors in humans, rats and mice have over 1200, essential in their mostly scent-guided world. As such, the social behaviour of rats and mice is influenced by pheromones - chemical factors that elicit a response in the same species. Less well studied are the effects of kairomones, chemical factors that elicit behavioural response across different species. An example of this complex interspecific communication has recently been discovered between rats and mice and their predators: a compound found in high concentrations in the urine of carnivorous mammals produces an instinctive avoidance response in rats and mice.

The kairomone 2-phenylethylamine, a product of protein metabolism, is found at a concentration over 3000 times greater in carnivorous mammals than in herbivorous mammals. Due to its volatility (particles are easily suspended in the air), these high levels of 2-phenylethylamine can de detected from great distances. When it reaches the nose of a rat or mouse, the kairomone activates trace amine-associated olfactory receptor TAAR4, causing an innate avoidance response. While this is a key aid in survival for rats and mice, meanwhile, we would walk on by oblivious, as we completely lack the gene for TAAR4. The mechanism by which chemical receptors are translated via neural circuits to behaviours is a fascinating subject, as yet unresolved.

Ref: D. M. Ferrero et al. (2011) Detection and avoidance of a carnivore odor by prey. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 108(27) 11235-11240 [link]

Source: Flickr / necilbug

  1. marianaismyname reblogged this from zoo-logic
  2. kriskazoo reblogged this from cog-nito
  3. nuh-thin reblogged this from mentalfornication
  4. magnusinperu reblogged this from mentalfornication
  5. mentalfornication reblogged this from cog-nito
  6. cog-nito reblogged this from zoo-logic
  7. 2skoops reblogged this from zoo-logic
  8. pretty-young-dead-thing reblogged this from zoo-logic and added:
    adorable!!! I’ve asked for...few times, unfortunately my mother was and still is against...
  9. aelita10 reblogged this from zoo-logic
  10. princess-nicolee reblogged this from zoo-logic
  11. iitzkat reblogged this from zoo-logic
  12. meforwhoiam reblogged this from zoo-logic
  13. analyzingsickminds reblogged this from zoo-logic
  14. smarmosaur reblogged this from zoo-logic and added:
    was super interesting. :)
  15. nadaalendaverdade reblogged this from zoo-logic
  16. scribbabbles reblogged this from angel-obscura
  17. chewties reblogged this from fuckyeahcuteoverload
  18. origamidilemmas reblogged this from laurakandtheinfinitesadness
  19. angel-obscura reblogged this from fuckyeahcuterodents
  20. laurakandtheinfinitesadness reblogged this from fuckyeahcuterodents
  21. fuckyeahcuterodents reblogged this from fuckyeahcuteoverload
  22. iregretlettingyougo reblogged this from doctornumber9
  23. doctornumber9 reblogged this from fuckyeahcuteoverload
  24. fuckyeahcuteoverload reblogged this from zoo-logic
  25. justeidrian reblogged this from zoo-logic
  26. pipersinapickle reblogged this from zoo-logic
  27. hallucinogenicwolf reblogged this from zoo-logic
  28. architeuthis-deux reblogged this from zoo-logic
  29. doppelgengar reblogged this from zoo-logic
  30. cziriak reblogged this from zoo-logic
  31. karinaponte reblogged this from zoo-logic